How can I match a string with parenthesis in JavaScript?

Question

This seems like it should be easy and straight-forward but I can't solve this for the life of me.

Using jQuery, I want to match a string with its parentheses using Regex.

This is the string I'm trying to match: (CA)

This is my Regex: (/\(([A-Z]{2})\)/)

I've tried using new RegExp("\\(([A-Z]{2})\\)") as well.

No matter what I try I always end up with the Unrecognized expression: (CA) error message in my console.

What am I doing wrong? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

EDIT Aug. 4 @ 9:09 GMT-7

Here is my full code:

<div class="athlete-name">Random Joe</div> <div class="high-school">Jonah Lomu Senior (CA)</div>

Upon successful match, the (CA) will be replaced with <img src="/img/flag/ca.svg"/>

Can you provide a full example of your code. Also, Are you trying to match including or excluding the brackets? — Rory McCrossan
– Rory McCrossan, Commented Aug 4, 2015 at 15:02
Why do you use double parens in Regex (before and after escaped one)? — hindmost
– hindmost, Commented Aug 4, 2015 at 15:09
@hindmost Because with jQuery, if you're going to use the meta characters as a literal part of the code, they have to be escaped with \\ preceding them. See here: api.jquery.com/category/selectors — DaveyJake
– DaveyJake, Commented Aug 4, 2015 at 15:15

Zsw · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-04 15:25:30Z

1

This is the regex that you want to match the string.

(\([A-Z]{2}\))

Here's how it would work.

var s = "(CA)";
var r = /(\([A-Z]{2}\))/;

if(r.test(s)){
    alert('Matched!');
}

Give your edit, here's how it might be used.

$('div').each(function() {
    var s = $(this).html();
    var r = s.replace(/(\([A-Z]{2}\))/, '<img src="/img/flag/ca.svg"/>');  
    $(this).html(r);
});

edited Aug 4, 2015 at 15:25

answered Aug 4, 2015 at 15:07

Zsw

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4 Comments

DaveyJake Over a year ago

It gives me this in the console: Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property 'ownerDocument' of undefined

gymbrall Over a year ago

I deleted my answer and upvoted yours as this really isn't a regex question and you seem to have a handle on this.

DaveyJake Over a year ago

Any idea how to get around the Uncaught Error: Syntax error, unrecognized expression: (CA) error message? That's currently what's holding me up.

Zsw Over a year ago

@DaveyJake You need to post your javascript code as well, and possibly the line number that you're getting the error on.

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